What does it mean? Why is it important? What is the big deal anyway?
One thing we see consistently is that time after time men have fought for their freedom. And whether ALL the accounts are right or not, the fact remains that there is plenty of compelling arguments that freedom was a major driving force in many if not most of those conflicts.
As evidence I will rely on other’s quotes to make my point…
Benjamin Franklin said,
“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
And,
“Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.”
So what is too high a price for peace? I would conjecture that the loss of freedom is what he references based on this quote of his…
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”The gist being, Peace (security) is not worth the loss of Freedom (Liberty).
“I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery.” ~Author Unknown
“Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.” ~Albert Einstein
Freedom is the last, best hope of earth. ~ Abraham Lincoln
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
So we see there a sense of how important freedom has been, I mean let’s face it we all have heard the famous quote from Nathan Hale…
“I only regret, that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
But during my research for this I found one of his quotes that was equally compelling…
“Let us march immediately,” he said, “and never lay down our arms until we obtain our independence.”
That was before he even joined the military to fight the British. So this was an attitude or belief he held throughout. In fact the concept of freedom was important enough that he signed up BECAUSE of it! And he later agreed to do whatever needed to be done to ensure that freedom for all! this was NOT a fly by night proposition.
But the thing about freedom is that with the privilege of freedom there is a responsibility too.
“Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.” ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality," 1905
“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.” ~Thomas Paine
Wait… you mean I have to be willing to allow my opponent the same freedom I am demanding?… YES! But there is more.
“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Here is my advice as we begin the century that will lead to 2081. First, guard the freedom of ideas at all costs. Be alert that dictators have always played on the natural human tendency to blame others and to oversimplify. And don't regard yourself as a guardian of freedom unless you respect and preserve the rights of people you disagree with to free, public, unhampered expression.” ~Gerard K. O'Neill, 2081
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” ~Thomas Paine
And of course...
“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” ~William Faulkner
We cannot shirk these duties. We must defend freedom at all costs. There are many out there that would deny our freedoms and they would do it in ways that are insidious…
“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” ~James Madison, speech, Virginia Convention, 1788
“The contest for ages has been to rescue liberty from the grasp of executive power.” ~Daniel Webster
“The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” ~Louis D. Brandeis
“The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.” ~Edmund Burke
So this is all my response / Advice to the current (and future) governments… in order to uphold the freedom/liberties purchased for us at so great a price, you must practice freedom and you must defend it to the uttermost.
“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.” ~Adlai Stevenson, speech, Detroit, 1952
“We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.” ~Robert J. McCracken
“For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“No one is free when others are oppressed.” ~Author Unknown
All of us need to stand and defend our freedom or we might not have anything to stand for, or anywhere to stand.
So in closing I remind you of one more quote...
" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."(this is attributed to Edmund Burke.)
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